In 2011, there were 120 licensing breaches, out of which, 21 were content related.
Licensing breaches in the year of review included MediaCorp’s failure to comply with the Nationwide Radio Multiplex Service Licence conditions when it ceased transmission of its five DAB-only radio stations with effect from 1 April 2011 without prior approval from MDA. MediaCorp was fined for the non-compliance of licence conditions.
PacNet was found to be in breach of the Class Licence conditions after a compliance check conducted on 15 July 2011. PacNet failed to block users with residential access accounts from the 100 blocked Internet sites and did not take prompt action to correct the contravention. PacNet was issued with a financial penalty and a notice to prohibit subscribers’ access to the 100 blocked Internet sites.
In the area of content related licensing breaches, the movie, Jacob’s Ladder, which was aired on StarHub Cable Vision’s (SCV) Thrill Channel, was found to contain scenes with frontal nudity and the use of expletives. The film was broadcast twenty times between 22 January 2011 and 12 June 2011. SCV was issued with a financial penalty for the non-compliance of the Subscription Television Programme Code.
Arising from public feedback, 11 sex-themed games offered on SingTel’s IDEAS website were found to contain scantily-clad or nude women, and two of these games also featured themes of rape and bestiality. As these materials were offensive to good taste and decency and constituted materials prohibited under the Internet Code of Practice, SingNet was imposed a fine.
As a media regulator that seeks to protect consumer interest, MDA will not hesitate to take firm regulatory action against companies that contravene licensing conditions or content guidelines that are consistent with community standards and mores.